This invention relates to a dual projection screen system for projecting content having different formats.
Screening rooms are used to project movies during the production process for review, assessment or adjustment in a way that closely resembles the environment in which they will be exhibited. Thus, the screening room environment should exceed in most, if not all, pertinent qualities, compared to the environment in which the movie will be exhibited. This ensures that during a critical viewing, any flaw or mismatch present in the movie will be clearly visible to the production team, even though it may be less apparent in an exhibition theatre. This allows the production crew to ensure that the movie contains no unexpected quality issues.
In the case of a screening room suitable for use with 3-dimensional (3D) presentations, a high-gain screen is used to overcome the light-loss inherent in 3D projection systems. However, the high-gain screen is not well suited for review of, or adjustments to, non-3D presentations, which typically are not presented on a high-gain screen. Thus, viewing a 2-dimensional (2D) presentation on a high-gain screen produces non-optimal conditions for critical viewing and interferes with the production process.
In some cases, separate screening rooms are configured for 2D and 3D presentations. However, this wastes resources when one or the other format is not currently called for and a screening room lies dormant. In other cases, a 3D-ready screening room is used for a 2D presentation, though the presentation suffers in that situation.
In still other cases, a 2D screen is permanently located on the front wall of the screening room with a separate 3D screen being wheeled in on a frame for 3D presentations, and pushed to the side of the room at other times. However, the presence of the 3D screen, even off to the side, can be a sufficient distraction that may substantially degrade the usability of the review room for critical viewing. In addition, such a system presents potential safety concerns, e.g., a large frame (for providing stable support for the 3D screen) is difficult and hazardous for one person to manage, and a wheeled frame also poses a trip hazard. Furthermore, since the two screens are at distinct locations in their respective viewing positions, i.e., one ahead or in front of the other, it is necessary to re-adjust the projector, e.g., re-focus and re-convergence, when changing from one screen to the other, to account for the different throw (distance) between the projector and the screen in use. Additionally, it is also difficult to return a mobile frame accurately to the same position after each change between 2D and 3D screens.
In other cases such as retractable screens that are mechanically rolled up, the surface of high-quality projection screens, especially 3D screens, is easily damaged by repeated rolling and unrolling, or mere flexure. A screen used for critical viewing, once damaged, must be replaced because it cannot be repaired. Additionally, one screen rolling down in front of a fixed screen will still result in the two screens having distinct throws as discussed above.
Thus, there is a need for improved projection screen systems for projecting content having different formats.
Embodiments of the present invention provide improvements over conventional systems by allowing either one of two screens to be moved into viewing positions such that each screen can be placed at respective fixed distances from one or more projectors in a repeatable manner, such that equipment re-adjustments can be avoided when exchanging the screens for viewing content of different formats. A system of the present invention is particularly useful for use in a screening room that does not have adequate ceiling height to allow the unused screen to be moved vertically out of the way, nor wings (an offstage area) to allow the unused screen to be moved laterally off stage. It also allows the use of projection screen materials not durable enough for repeated flexing, such as rolling and unrolling, as may occur by having two screens on a continuous belt or in a roll-up configuration.
One embodiment provides a system, which includes a first screen movable on a rail between a first viewing position and a first stowed position, and a second screen movable on the rail between a second viewing position and a second stowed position. The system is configured such that when the first screen is in the first viewing position for receiving projected content of a first format, the second screen is in the second stowed position; and when the second screen is in the second viewing position for receiving projected content of a second format different from the first format, the first screen is in the first stowed position.
Another embodiment provides a method of projecting content with different formats, which includes: providing a first screen movable on a rail between a first viewing position and a first stowed position, the first screen being compatible with viewing content of a first format; and providing a second screen movable on the rail between a second viewing position and a second stowed position, the second screen being compatible with viewing content of a second format different from the first format. The method further includes performing at least one of: (a) projecting content of the first format onto the first screen at the first viewing position while keeping the second screen in the second stowed position; and (b) projecting content of the second format onto the second screen at the second viewing position while keeping the first screen in the first stowed position.
The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. The drawings are not to scale, and one or more features may be expanded or reduced for clarity.
Each of left and right screens 131 and 133 is a single integral unit that may be constructed as a solid structure, or may be formed of a flexible fabric stretched over a rigid frame. Suitable screens of the latter implementation are manufactured by Stewart Filmscreen Corporation, e.g., Luxus Deluxe Screenwall.
Left and right screens 131 and 133 hang from or are attached to respective left screen rollers 132 and right screen rollers 134 (only one shown in
Screens 131 and 133 are different types of projection screen used for viewing content of different formats. In particular, one screen is suitable for 3D projection, e.g., a silver screen such as that made from the Silver 3D™ specialty fabric available from Stewart Filmscreen) and the other suitable for traditional 2D projection, e.g., a matt screen made from UltraMatte 150 flexible front projection screen material, also available from Stewart Filmscreen.
The 2D and 3D screens may be similarly perforated (including unperforated), and be of similar thickness and weight so as to offer similar acoustic transmission properties relative to the speakers 110 on wall 101. Otherwise, the sound system (not shown) for driving speakers 110 should use a distinct equalization for each screen in viewing position.
A curtain rail 120 is attached to ceiling 104 and runs from the left side of room 100, across the front, to the right side of the room. The curtain rail 120 is positioned farther from the walls than the screen rail 130. Rollers 122 and 124 are provided on curtain rail 120 for attaching or coupling to a left-side curtain 121 and right-side curtain 123, respectively. As shown in
In some embodiments, two separate curtain rails can be used, i.e., one on the left and one on the right side of the room, with no curtain rail near the center of the front wall 101. However, a continuous curtain rail may provide better strength, alignment, and less of a propensity to glint (e.g., from edges) when a show is being projected.
Examples of rails and rollers suitable for use with the screens and curtains described above are available from Automatic Devices Company (ADC), of Allentown, Pa. In particular, the RIG-I-FLEX Model 140 Series Curtain Tracks is a line of products that includes aluminum No. 1400-BL Channel, which can be used for screen rail 130 or curtain rail 120. The ADC's No. 4251 Scenery Carrier can serve as screen rollers, and No. 4201-BL Single Carrier is suitable for use as curtain rollers. ADC's end stop No. 1409 (not shown in the figures) may be used to prevent the curtain rollers from leaving or traveling off the ends of curtain rail 120. In some embodiments, a valence (not shown) may be included to hide rails 120, 130, and the corresponding rollers 122, 124, 132, 134 from the view of the audience.
As shown in
When curtains 121 and 123 are in their extended positions (e.g., at least covering most of the side walls), respective screens 131, 133 in stowed positions will be hidden and protected by the curtain coverings. The single exposed screen in viewing position, whether 131 or 133, is correctly positioned to reflect an image projected by any projector in the projection booth (not shown). One or more projectors can be used for projecting content of different formats. Furthermore, different projectors can operate from different positions, or a given projector can be moved into a fixed or predetermined operating position for projecting content onto the viewing screen, e.g., moved along a rail parallel to the screen into a center position.
The opening and closing of curtains 121 and 123 and movement of screens 131 and 133 can be motorized or manually operated for implementing principles of the present invention.
In the example of
However, due to possible differences in dimensions or alignment needs, the two screens may not occupy exactly the same space or location when they are in their respective viewing positions along the front wall. For simplicity of discussion, the term “viewing position” may also be used to refer generally to either screen being in position for proper viewing of their respective content format, e.g., along the front wall in the layout such as that in
If both screens 131, 133 are flat screens, the viewing positions will lie in a same plane (assuming similar thickness for both screens). If one of the screens is curved and the other is flat, or if the screens have different curvatures, then the screens' viewing positions, though not in the same plane, are still substantially coincident and occupying approximately the same location.
This is shown in
Regardless of the type of screens used, the system is configured such that each time a screen is moved to its viewing position, it is placed at a fixed or predetermined distance (e.g., optimized for projection focus, alignment, and so on) from the projecting booth or from its corresponding projector in operating position. In layouts typically used for professional media reviews, the projector is on-axis with the centerline of the screen, and usually housed in another room (e.g., a projection booth) with images projected through a soundproof window. The distance between the screen and the corresponding projector can be defined by any appropriate reference points, e.g., between a center point on the screen and a given point of the projector's operating position, or between a given point on the screen and a reference point for the projecting booth. By mounting both screens on the same fixed rail, each screen can be accurately positioned at its respective distance from the projector in a repeatable manner, regardless of the number of screen exchanges. However, due to differences in screen dimensions and/or curvatures, the respective screen-to-projector distances may be different for the two screens.
If a single projector is used for projecting content of different formats onto the respective screens, each screen at its viewing position is positioned at a suitable distance from the projector, thus minimizing the need for major equipment adjustments when switching from one screen to the other. In one embodiment, both screens at their respective viewing positions are located at a common (i.e., same) distance from the projector, and each screen can be repeatably positioned at that distance for each screen exchange. If more than one projector is used, e.g., one for projecting content of a first format, and another for projecting content of a second format, then the appropriate projector can be moved into the proper operating position as needed.
In general, each screen's viewing position also has a fixed spatial relationship with respect to the audience area. In one configuration, each viewing position is centered with respect to the audience area in the lateral (i.e., left to right) direction. This is shown in
Since the screens 131, 133 are configured to travel along rail 130 horizontally around the room (instead of being arranged vertically, one above the other), the review room 100 only needs to be high enough to accommodate the rail and other support assembly for the screens. Furthermore, stowing the unused screen along a side wall of the room represents an efficient use of the limited space typically found in screening rooms.
In some embodiments, screens 131 and 133 may be provided with a latching mechanism (not shown) to provide a positive retention at the viewing position. An example of a suitable latching mechanism is a cane bolt latch attached to the back or side of each of screens 131 and 133, with the cane bolt configured to engage with a hole in the floor, or in a floor-mounted block, to ensure that screens in the viewing position are repeatable positions. Such a latching system has the additional advantage of substantially preventing air currents in the room from causing the screen to sway. In still other embodiments, other latching systems may be used, for example, a latching system may positively engage a screen in viewing position to the front wall 101 to achieve similar benefits.
Aside from the example shown in
Both sequences described above are reversible, i.e., can be used by reversing the order of the various steps, and either sequence can be used to move one of two screens from its stowed position into viewing position, and vice versa.
These sequences allow the conversion of review room 100 from high quality 3D projection to high quality 2D projection to occur in less than a minute. This represents a significant advantage over conventional review rooms with a single screen, which are constrained to show only one or the other content format, or high quality 3D but poor quality 2D.
Other sequences with different orders or combinations of curtain and screen movements and modes of operation can also be used, including, for example, moving the screens into respective positions at the same time (as opposed to moving one screen at a time or sequentially), or automating the movement of screens and/or curtains by suitable controllers, with the choice of sequence or operating mode being a policy decision based on various factors such as safety, ease of operation and costs, among others.
By avoiding the use of retractable or rolled-up type of screens, embodiments of the present invention also overcome the constraints presented by the fragile nature of typical 3D screens, while facilitating configuration changes to accommodate different content formats as well as storage of different screens within the limited space in typical review rooms.
Although the above principles are particularly well-suited for use in screening rooms, they can also be adapted for use in other projection viewing facilities or venues.
While the forgoing is directed to various embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. As such, the appropriate scope of the invention is to be determined according to the claims, which follow.